Maidstone

Maidstone's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 160,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Maidstone increased by 12%, from almost 139,000 to 155,000.

The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Maidstone was home to, on average, 2.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Maidstone

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Maidstone increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 12% of people in Maidstone are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Maidstone

The number of people in Maidstone that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 20,000 in 2001 to about 41,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Maidstone that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to just under 98,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to about 11,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.1%.

About 1,700 people (0.5%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 730 in 2001 (1.1%).

The population without a religion in Maidstone increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Maidstone

The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Maidstone that rented privately increased from 7.7% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Maidstone households that owned their home decreased from 77% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Maidstone increased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Maidstone, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Maidstone working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Maidstone decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Maidstone, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Maidstone

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Maidstone, but at a slower rate than in Medway (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Maidstone).

In Maidstone, the proportion of single people increased from 26% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Medway increased from 29% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Maidstone fell from 56% to 51%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Maidstone residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Maidstone decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Maidstone, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Maidstone, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.8% to 9.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 43% in 2001. The percentage of households in Maidstone, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Maidstone increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Maidstone, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Maidstone residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents that were self-employed increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Maidstone increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Maidstone, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Maidstone residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 2.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Maidstone remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Maidstone with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10% to 9.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Maidstone without children remained close to 60%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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